Washing machine system or the like



Feb.28,i967 D.C.PRIDHAM,JR

WASHING MACHINE SYSTEM OR THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet l m. mm

Filed May 28, 1965 1967 D. c. PRIDHAM, JR 3,30

WASHING MACHINE SYSTEM OR THE LIKE Filed May 28, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 TIME IN MINUTES REGULAR FABRICS OPERATION 4 LEGEND I BLEED TO C: BLISTERS FIG Feb. 28, 1967 D. c. PRIDHAM, JR 3,306,411

WASHING MACHINE SYSTEM OR THE LIKE Filed May 28, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3- United States Patent Office Patented Feb. 28, 1967 3,306,411 WASHING MACHINE SYSTEM OR THE LIKE Donald C. Pridham, Jr., Orange, Califi, assignor to Robertshaw Controls Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 28, 1965, Ser. No. 459,728 20 Claims. (Cl. 192-135) This invention relates to an improved system for controlling the operation of a domestic washing machine or the like.

In particular, it is well known that various washing machines are provided with a single electrical motor which, when its output shaft is rotated in one direction, operates the agitator of the washing machine and, when its output shaft is rotated in the opposite direction, spins the washing compartment of the washing machine.

However, it is also well known that when the washing compartment is spinning at a relatively high speed to cen trifuge the water out of the laundry disposed therein, some means must be provided to turn off the electrical motor should someone accidentally .open the lid or door of the washing machine which provides access to the spinning washing compartment.

In addition, it has been found that it is desirous to have some means for latching the door or lid in its closed position during the spinning operation of the washing compartment.

According to the teachings of this invention, improved pneumatic control means are provided for controlling the operation of a washing machine or the like in the above manner.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved washing machine system having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view illustrating the improved control system of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the sequence of operation of the system illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view illustrating the main program member of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the lid or door of the washing machine of FIGURE 1 latched in its closed position during the spinning operation.

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the latch structure illustrated in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a top view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a side view of the latch member for the structure of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view of the valve means of FIGURE 5.

While the various features .of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adaptable for providing a control system for a domestic washing machine or the like, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide a control system for other devices as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only 2 the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the improved control system of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and includes an electrical motor 11 having an output shaft 12 which, when rotated in one direction, will, through suitable transmission means, operate the agitator of the washing machine 10 and, when rotated in the opposite direction, will, through suitable transmission means, spin the washing compartment of the washing machine 10.

The motor 11 has a running winding 13 and a starting winding 14, the running winding 13 having one side 15 thereof interconnected to a contact 16 by a lead 17 and the other side 18 thereof interconnected to power lead L by a lead 19. The starting winding 14 has one side 20 thereof interconnected to a contact 21 by a lead 22 and the other side 22 thereof interconnected to a contact 23 by a lead 24, the lead 24 having a capacitor 25 therein, as well as a centrifugal switch 25 which opens upon a predetermined speed of rotation of the output shaft 12.

A first electrical switch 26 is provided and has three switch blades 27, 28, and 29 interconnected together by means 30, the blade 27 being hinged at contact 23 to bridge the contact 23 with a contact 31, the switch blade 28 being hinged at the contact 21 and being adapted to bridge the contact 21 with a contact 32, and the switch blade 29 being hinged at a contact 33 and being adapted to bridge the contact 33 with a contact 34.

The means 30 of the electric switch 26 is interconnected to a pneumatic actuator 35, which, when receiving atmospheric conditions in the chamber thereof, holds the switch blades 27, 28, and 29, in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1. However, when the chamber of the actuator 35 is evacuated by being interconnected to a vacuum source or the like in a manner hereinafter described, the actuator 35 pulls the blade 27 to bridge the contact 23 with the contact 32 and pulls the switch blades 28 and 29 so that the same bridge the contacts 21 and 33 with a contact 36 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The contact 31 is in the lead 17 previously described and the contact 32 is interconnected to the power lead L by a lead 37. The contact 33 is interconnected to the lead 17 by a lead 33.

The contact 36 is interconnected to a contact 38 of another electrical switch 39 by a lead 40. The switch 39 includes a movable switch blade 41 hinged at a contact 42 and adapted to bridge the contacts 42 and 38, the contact 42 being interconnected to the power lead L by a lead 43.

The switch blade 41 is interconnected to a pneumatic actuator 44 which holds the switch blade 41 in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 to bridge the contacts 41 and 38 when the chamber of the actuator 44 is at atmospheric condition. However, when the chamber of the actuator 44 is evacuated by being interconnected to a vacuum pump or the like, the actuator 44 by an interconnecting means 45 will move the switch blade 41 out of contact with the contact 38 for a purpose hereinafter described.

Another electrical switch 46 is provided and includes a switch blade 47 adapted to bridge a cont-act 48 in the lead 43 with the contact 16. However, the switch blade 47 is interconnected by means 49 to a pneumatically operated actuator 50 so that when the actuator 50 has its chamber at atmospheric conditions, the actuator 50 holds the switch blade 47 in the open position, as illustrated 3 in FIGURE 1. However, when the chamber of the actuator is evacuated, by being interconnected to a vacuum pump or the like, the actuator 50 pulls the switch blade 47 to bridge the contacts 38 and 16 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The power lead L is also interconnected to the contact 38 of the switch 39 by a lead 51, the lead 51 having a timer motor 52 disposed therein to cause movement of a main program member 53, FIGURE 3, over a reading head 54 for a purpose hereinafter described.

A vacuum pump 55 is provided and is placed across the power leads 43 and 51 by a lead 56, the vacuum pump 55 having the inlet side 57 thereof interconnected to the reading head 54 by a flexible conduit means 58 in a manner hereinafter described.

The reading head 54 has a reading surface 59 interrupted by a plurality of ports 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, and 71, with the ports 60, 61, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, and 71 being disposed in vertical alignment while the port 62 is disposed in horizontal alignment with port 61 and the port 68 is disposed in horizontal alignment with the port 67.

The flexible conduit 58 leading from the inlet 57 of the vacuum pump 55 is interconnected to the port 66 of the reading head 54, as well as to a port 72 of a water level control device 73, the water level control device 73 also having two other ports 74 and 75. The device 73 has a valve means 76 for fluidly interconnecting the ports 72 and 74 together when the water level in the washing machine 10 is below a predetermined level. However, when the water level in the washing machine 10 is above a predetermined level, the means 76 disconnects the port 72 from the port 74 and interconnects the port to the port 74, the port 75 being interconnected to the atmosphere.

The port 74 of the water level control device 73 is interconnected to the port 63 of the reading head 54 by a flexible conduit means 77.

The program member 53 which moves over the reading surface 59 of the reading head 54 includes a flexible reading sheet 78 having a plurality of blister means 79 formed therein in a predetermined pattern to bridge various ports in the reading head 54 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2, as those particular blister means 79 pass over the reading head 54. In addition, the reading sheet 78 has a plurality of aperture means 80 passing therethrough in a predetermined pattern to be aligned with various of the ports in reading head 54 to permit air to enter those aligned ports in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 2. The reading sheet 78 is interconnected to a rigid backing member 81 in any suitable manner and is spaced therefrom by a porous compressible material 82 whereby air is adapted to enter an aperture means 83 of the backin-g member 81 and be filtered by the material 82 as the same passes through an aperture means 80 of the reading sheet 78 into an aligned port in the reading head 74.

The program member 53 is adapted to move over the reading head 54 at a constant speed by the timer motor 52 previously described when the timer motor is energized in the manner hereinafter set forth to produce the cycle of operation illustrated in FIGURE 2.

A second reading head 84 is provided and has the reading surface 85 thereof interrupted by a plurality of vertically aligned ports 86, 87, 88, and 89. A program member is adapted to selectively move over the reading surface 85 of the reading head 84 and has blister means 91, 92, 93, 94, and formed therein in the same manner as the blister means 79 previously described to bridge certain of the ports in the reading head 84 when an indicator 96 of the program member 90 is disposed in a particular position WH, WW, WC, and CC, as illustrated in FIGURE 1 to select a water temperature of the water being directed into the washing machine by a water mixing valve 97.

The water mixing valve 97 has a hot water inlet 98 interconnected to a pneumatic actuator 99 by means 100 whereby when the actuator 99 is at atmospheric conditions the actuator 99 closes the hot water inlet 98. However, when the chamber of the actuator 99 is evacuated, the same opens the inlet 98 to direct water through the water mixing valve 97 to the outlet 101 thereof. Similarly, the water mixing valve 97 has a cold water inlet 102 controlled by a pneumatic actuator 103 interconnected thereto by means 104. Thus, when the actuator 103 is at atmospheric conditions, the same holds the cold water inlet 10:2 in its closed position, but when the chamber of the actuator 103 is evacuated, the same opens the cold water inlet .102.

The port 86 of the reading head 84, and the port 60 of the reading head 54 are interconnected to the chamber of the actuator 103 by flexible conduit means 105. The port 88 of the reading head 84 is interconnected to the chamber of the hot water actuator 99 by flexible conduit means 106. The port 61 of the reading head 54 is interconnected to the port 87 of the reading head 84 by a flexible conduit 107. The port 62 of the reading head 54 is interconnected to the port 89 of the reading head 84 by a flexible conduit 108.

The port 64 of the reading head 54 is interconnected to the chamber of the actuator 44 by a flexible conduit means 109. Similarly, the port 65 of the reading head 54 is interconnected to the chamber of the actuator 35 by a flexible conduit means 110. The port 67 of the reading head 54 is interconnected to the chamber of the actuator 50 by a flexible conduit means 111.

The port 68 of the reading head 54 is interconnected to a chamber of an actuator 112 by a flexible conduit means .113, the actuator 112 when evacuated, opening a switch blade 114 in the line 43 to terminate the cycle of operation of the system 10. However, the switch blade 114 is adapted to be disposed in a closed position by suitable start means 115 to start the cycle of operation selected by the program member 53.

The port 69 of the reading head 54 is interconnected to a chamber 116 of a vacuum regulator 117 by a flexible conduit 118, the vacuum regulator having the chamber 116 thereof also interconnected to the main vacuum line 58 by a vacuum line 118'. The vacuum regulator 117 is controlled by a knob 119 whereby the magnitude of the vacuum in the chamber 116 can be automatically controlled so that the magnitude of vacuum imposed on line 118 will be in accordance with that selected by the knob 119, the vacuum regulator 117 selecting the speed of operation of the agitator of the washing machine 10.

The port 70 of the reading head 54 is interconnected to a chamber of a pneumatic actuator 120 by flexible conduit means 121, the actuator 120 controlling the speed of the transmission means for either the agitator or the washing compartment in relation to the magnitude of vacuum imposed in the chamber thereof.

The port 71 of the reading head 54 is interconnected to a chamber 122 of another vacuum regulator 123 by a flexible conduit means 124, the chamber 122 of the regulator 123 also being interconnected to the port 74 of the water level control device 73 by means of a flexible conduit means 124 leading to the port 63 of the reading head 54.

The vacuum regulator 123 has a control knob 125 which will select the magnitude of vacuum being imposed on the line 124' to be utilized for controlling the spin speed of the washing compartment of the washing machine 10.

The washing machine 10 is provided with a top wall 126, FIGURE 4, which has an opening 127 passing therethrough to provide access to the washing compartment (not shown) of the washing machine 10. The top wall 126 is recessed at 128 around the opening 127 to receive a lid or door 129 hinged to the wall 126 at the left end of the door 129 in FIGURE 4.

The wall 126 has an aperture 130 passing therethrough in the recessed portion 128 thereof and is adapted to receive an L-shaped keeper 131 attached to the under side of the door 129. The keeper 131 is adapted to engage an arm 132 of a latching structure 133 when the door 129 is closed whereby, when the Washing compartment is to be spun, the lever or arm 132 causes a latching member 134 to move over the lower arm of the keeper 131 to latch the door 129 in its closed position in a manner hereinafter described.

In particular, reference is made to FIGURES 5-7 wherein the latching mechanism 133 includes a mounting bracket 135 having a top plate 136 for securing the latch structure 133 to the Wall 126 of the washing machine 10.

The arm 132 is pivotally mounted to the bracket 135 by a pivot pin means 137 intermediate the ends 138 and 139 of the arm 132.

A valving mechanism 140 is carried by the bracket 135 in the position illustrated in FIGURE 5 and has an operating plunger 141 adapted to be engaged by a screw 142 carried by the end 139 of the arm 132 for a purpose hereinafter described. A tension spring 143 is provided and is interconnected at one end 144 to the bracket 135 and at the other end 145 to the arm 132 to tend to cause the same to normally rotate in a clockwise direction to push down on the plunger 141.

The latch member 134 has notches 146 formed therein to pivotally mount the latch member 134 intermediate the ends 147 and 148 thereof, the notches 146 of the latch member 134 receiving suitable knife edges of the bracket means 136 to pivotally mount the same to the bracket 135.

A tension spring 147 is provided and has one end 148 interconnected to the latch member 134 to the left of the pivot points 146 thereof as illustrated in FIGURE 6 and the other end 149 thereof secured to the bracket 135 whereby the tension spring 147 tends to move the latch member 135 in a counterclockwise unlatching direction in FIGURE 6.

A bellows construction or pneumatic actuator 150 is provided and has one end 151 attached to the end 148 of the lever 134 and the other end 152 thereof attached to the bracket 135 whereby when the bellows or actuator 150 is evacuated, the same causes the end 147 of the latch member 134 to move in a clockwise direction in FIGURE 6 to move over the keeper 131 of the door 129 to hold the same in its closed position.

The valve means 140 comprises a pair of housing members 153 and 154 suitably secured together and sandwiching a flexible diaphragm 155 therebetween, the diaphragm 155 cooperating with the housing means 153 and 154 to define two chambers 156 and 157.

The diaphragm 155 has an offset aperture 158 passing therethrough for a purpose hereinafter described.

The housing member 154 has three ports 159, 160', and 161 passing therethrough and interconnecting the exterior of the valve means 140 with the chamber 156, the port 159 being interconnected to the left hand part of the line 111 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 and the port 161 being interconnected to the right part of the line 111 leading to the actuator 50 previously described. The port 160 of the valve means 140 leads to the interior of the actuator 150 by means of a flexible conduit 162. The plunger 141 of the valve means 140 has an enlarged cylindrical portion 163 disposed in the chamber 157 and is provided with an end 164 adapted to abut against the diaphragm 155 and push the same in sealing relation against a valve seat 165 separating the port 159 from the ports 16-1 and 160, the plunger 141 having a reduced cylindrical portion 166 passing through a suitable aperture 167 in the housing means 153 and carries an annular seal 168 which will seal closed the aperture 167 when the plunger 141 is moved fully to the right by a compression spring 169 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8.

The reduced portion 166 of the plunger 141 has one or more longitudinal grooves 170 formed therein and the 6 enlarged portion 163 thereof also has one or more longitudinal grooves 171 formed therein for a purpose hereinafter described.

Thus, it can be seen that when the end 138 of the arm 132 of the latch structure 133 is moved downwardly in FIGURE 5 by means of the keeper 131 of the door 129 pressing thereon when the door 129 is closed, the end 139 of the arm 132 is raised upwardly a distance sufficient to permit the compression spring 169 of the valve means to move the diaphragm away from the valve seat 154 and have the seal 168 seal the aperture 167 in the housing means 153 whereby the ports 159, 160, and 161 are fluidly interconnected together.

However, should the door or lid 129 be in an open position, it can be seen that the tension spring 143 will pull upwardly on the end 138 of the arm 132 causing the screw 142 to depress the plunger 141 and place the diaphragm 155 in sealing relation against the valve seat to prevent communication between the port 159 and the ports 160 and 161. In addition, when the diaphragm 155 is seated against the valve seat 165, the seal 168 carried by the plunger 141 is moved away from the aperture 167 so that atmosphere is adapted to pass down the grooves and 171 to fill the chamber 157 and pass into the chamber 156 through the aperture 158 in the diaphragm 155 whereby atmosphere will be interconnected to the ports 160 and 161 and, thus, to the actuators 50 and 150.

The operation of the system 10 will now be described.

Assuming that the operator desires to do a regular fabrics wash cycle, as illustrate-d between the 0 minute increment and 34 minute increment and movement of the program member 53 as illustrated in FIGURE 2, With a hot wash water temperature and a warm rinse water temperature, the operator moves the program number 90 so that the indicator 96 thereof points to position HW whereby the blister 91 thereof bridges the ports 87 and 88 :for a purpose hereinafter described. Also, the operator selects the desired agitator speed by the knob 119 and the desired spin speed by the knob 125.

With the pro-gram member 53 disposed in the 0 position thereof, the operator pulls on the lever 115 to close the switch blade 114 whereby the vacuum pump 55 and timer motor 52 are placed across the power leads L and L because the switches 26, 39, and 46 are disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1, whereby the program member 59 beings to move relative to the reading head 54 under the influence of the timer motor 52. At the 0 increment of movement of the program member 53, it can be seen that a wide blister 79A, FIGURE 2, will simultaneously bridge the ports 61, 62, 63, and 64 of the reading head 59 and, since the water level in the washing machine 10 is below the predetermined level, the control device 73 interconnects the vacuum line 58 with the port 74 so that vacuum is at the port 63. With vacuum at the port 63, vacuum is fed from port 61 through line 107 to port 87 of the reading head 84 and is interconnected to the port 88 by the blister 91, so that the hot water actuator 99 is evacuated to open the hot water inlet 98 to direct hot water through the outlet 101 of the mixing valve 97 into the washing machine.

Since the blister 79A also bridges the ports 63 and 64 of the reading head 54, vacuum is imposed on the actuator 44 of the switch 39 to open the switch blade 41 so that .current cannot flow from L to the contact 36 of the switch 26.

Also, at the 0 increment of movement of the program member 53, it can be seen that a plurality of vertically aligned blisters 79B serially bridge the ports 65 and 66 whereby the vacuum at the port 66 is interconnected to the port 65 and, thus, to the chamber of the actuator 35 through the line 110 whereby the switch blades 27, 28, and 29 are pulled downwardly in the manner previously described, so that the switch blade 27 bridges the contacts 23 and 32 and the switch blades 28 7 and 29 interconnect the contact 36 with the contacts 33 and 21.

As long as the switch blade 41 is opened by the actuated actuator 44, no current can run through the starting winding 14 of the motor 11, so that the motor 11 is inoperative during the water filling operation until the water level has reached a predetermined level in the washing machine 10.

In particular, when the water level in the Washing machine reaches a predetermined level, the member 76 of the water level control device 73 disconnects the vacuum port 72 from the port 74 and interconnects the atmosphere port 75 with the port 74 whereby atmosphere is now interconnected to the port 63 of the reading head 54. Since atmosphere is at the port 63 of the reading head 54, the blister means 79A interconnects that atmosphere to the ports 61 and 64 so that the actuators 99 and 44 are interconnected to atmosphere. Since the actuator 99 is now interconnected to the atmosphere, the same closed hot water inlet 98 so that no more water is fed into the washing machine by the mixing valve 97.

Similarly, the deactivated actuator 44 causes the switch blade 41 thereof to bridge the contacts 42 and 38 so that current from power line L will flow through line 40, contact 36, switch blade 28, contact 21 and line 22 through the starting winding 14 of the motor 11, contact 23, switch blade 27, contact 32 and line 37 to power lead L to cause the output shaft 12 of the motor 11 to operate in the proper direction for operating the agitator of the washing machine .10.

After the motor 11 has been started by current flowing through the winding 14 thereof, the current flowing through the winding 13 continues to operate the motor 11 even though the centrifugal switch is subsequently opened by the speed of rotation of the output shaft 12. In particular, current flows from power lead L through line 40, contact 36, switch blade 29, contact 33, line 33, and line 17 through the winding 13 to the line 19 leading to the power lead L It can be seen that the motor 11 is now operated in a manner to cause movement of the agitator of the washing machine 10 from the time the water level in the washing machine 10 has reached the predetermined level determined 'by the 'water level control 73 until the 14 minute increment of movement of the program member 53.

Also, it should be noted that a series of vertical blisters 79C bridge the ports 69 and 70 to interconnect the controlled vacuum in the line 118 with the speed control actuator 120 to cause the transmission means being driven by the motor 11 to operate the agitator at the speed selected by the knob 119.

At the 14 minute increment of movement of the program member 53 relative to the reading head 54, it can be seen in FIGURE 2 that a suitable aperture 80 of the reading sheet 59 comes into alignment with the port 65 of the reading head 54 to permit atmosphere to return to the chamber of the actuator to move the switch blades 27, 28, and 29 back to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 to turn off the motor 11 and terminate the operation of the agitator.

Also, at the 14 minute increment of movement of the program member 53 relative to the reading head 54, a series of vertical blisters 79D bridge the ports 66 and 67 to interconnect the vacuum pump to the line 111 leading to the port 159 of the valve 140. If the door 129 is disposed in its closed position as illustrated in FIGURE 4, it can be seen that the keeper 131 has pressed the end 138 of the arm 132 to raise the end 139 so that the plunger 141 will be disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 8 under the force of the compression spring 169 to fluidly interconnect the port 159 with the ports 160 and 161.

In this manner, the vacuum pump 155 is interconnected to the actuators and 150 to simultaneously actuate the same.

When the actuator 150 is evacuated by means of the valve means 140, the same collapses to pull the end 148 of the latch member 134 toward the bracket 135 and cause the end 147 thereof to move over the keeper 131 of the door 129 to latch the same in its closed position.

When the actuator 50 is evacuated, the same pulls the switch blade 47 to close the contacts 48 and 16 to operate the motor 11 in a manner to spin the Washing compartment of the washing machine.

In particular, current now flows from lead L to line 43, contact 48, switch blade 47, contact 16, line 17, contact 31, switch blade 27, contact 23, line 24, capicitor 25, centrifugal switch 25 and starting winding 14, lead 22, cont-act 21, switch blade 28, contact 32 and line 37 to power lead L to cause the starting winding 14 to operate the shaft 12 in the opposite direction to drive the transmission means which spins the washing compartment, the starting winding 14 having the current therethrough terminated when the centrifugal switch 25 opens due to the speed of rotation of the output shaft 12. However, current now flows through the running winding 13 of the motor 11 by means of lead 17 from power lead L to lead 19 leading to power lead L whereby the motor 11 spins the washing compartment as long as the actuator 50 is evacuated.

Simultaneously, it can be seen that other blisters 79E of the program member 53 are bridging the ports 70 and 71 to interconnect the controlled vacuum in line 124 to the speed actuator 120 to cause the transmission means for the spinning operation to spin the washing compartment at the speed selected by the control knob 125, vacuum being directed to the chamber 122 when the water level control device 73 is in the full line position illustrated in FIGURE 1 caused by the water in the washing machine being pumped out below the predetermined level by a pump driven by the motor 11 when the output shaft 12 thereof rotates in the direction to spin the washing compartment.

If, however, the door 129 is disposed in the open position when the blisters 79D initially bridge the ports 66 and 67, it can be seen that the tension spring 143 has moved the end 139 of the arm 132 downwardly in FIG- URE 5 to cause the plunger 141 to place the diaphragm 155 in sealing relationship against the valve seat 165 so the vacuum cannot be interconnected to the chamber 156. Further, when the diaphragm 155 is against the valve seat 165, atmosphere is interconnected to the chamber 156 in the manner previously described so that the actuators 50 and cannot be actuated whereby the motor 11 cannot be energized to spin the washing compartment until the door 129 is disposed in its closed position.

If, however, the door 129 is disposed in its closed position and the motor 11 is operated in the above manner to spin the washing compartment by having the actuator 50 evacuated and someone should force open the door 129 by breaking the latch means 133, it can be seen that the diaphragm will seat against the valve seat to prevent the vacuum source from being interconnected to the actuator 50 and the valve means 140 will interconnect the atmosphere to the actuator 50 so that the same will move to its open position and turn off the motor 11.

Therefore, it can be seen that the washing machine 10 is controlled by the program member 53 in such a manner that the same will provide a cycle of operation as illustrated in FIGURE 2 in the above manner with the actuators 35, 50, and 44 controlling the motor in such a manner that the motor 11 will either operate the agitator or spin the washing compartment of the washing machine 10.

However, during the spinning operation, the door 129 must be disposed in its closed position or the motor 11 will not be operated to spin the washing compartment. Further, when the door is in the closed position and the motor 11 is to be operated to spin the washing compartment, means are provided for latching the door 129 in its closed position. Further, should the door be forced open during the spining operation, the spinning operation will be terminated by the structure of this invention.

Accordingly, it can be seen that this invention provides an improved control system for a washing machine or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a washing machine or the like having a door for access to a Washing compartment and having a motor for spinning said compartment, the improvement comprising pneumatically operated actuating means for causing said motor to spin said compartment when a pneumatic signal is directed to said actuating means, a pneumatic source, passage means for interconnecting said source to said actuating means, and means disposed between said source and said actuating means and being operatively interconnected to said door for closing said pass-age means from said source if said door is open and for opening said passage means to said source if said door is closed.

2. In a washing machine or the like as set forth in claim 1, program means for interconnecting said source to said passage means.

3. In a washing machine or the like as set forth in claim 1, said actuating means closing an electrical switch when said actuating means is interconnected to said source.

4. In a washing machine or the like as set forth in claim 1, said pneumatic source being a vacuum pump.

5. In a washing machine or the like as set forth in claim 1, said last-named means interconnecting said actuating means to the atmosphere when said door is open.

6. In a washing machine or the like as set forth in claim 1, said last-named means comprising a housing having two ports therein separated by a valve seat, one of said ports being interconnected to the part of said passage means leading to said source and the other port being interconnected to the part of said passage means leading to said actuating means, a diaphragm carried by said housing for opening and closing said valve seat, spring means tending to hold said diaphragm away from said valve seat when said door is closed, and a movable plunger carried by said housing and when moved in one direction by the opening of said door causing said diaphragm to close said seat, said plunger and said diaphragm being so constructed and arranged that atmosphere is adapted to be interconnected to said other port when said valve seat is closed and that atmosphere is prevented from being interconnected to said other port when said valve seat is opened.

7. In a washing machine or the like having a door for access to a washing compartment and having a motor for spinning said compartment, the improvement comprising pneumatically operated actuating means for latching said door in the closed position thereof when a pneumatic signal is directed to said actuating means, a pneumatic source, passage means for interconnecting said source to said actuating means, and means disposed between said source and said actuating means and being operatively interconnected to said door for closing said passage means from said source if said door is open and for opening said passage means to said source if said door is closed.

8. In a washing machine or the like as set forth in claim 7, program means for interconnecting said source to said passage means.

9. In a washing machine or the like as set forth in claim 7, said actuating means moving a latch member when said actuating means is interconnected to said source.

10. In a washing machine as set forth in claim 7, said pneumatic source being a vacuum pump.

11. In a washing machine or the like as set forth in claim 7, said last-named means interconnecting said actu- V ating means to the atmosphere when said door is open.

12. In a washing machine or the like as set forth in claim 7, said last-named means comprising a housing having two ports therein separated by a valve seat, one of said ports being interconnected to the part of said passage means leading to said source and the other port being interconnected to the part of said passage means leading to actuating means, a diaphragm carried by said housing for opening and closing 'said valve seat, spring means tending to hold said diaphragm away from said valve seat when said door is closed, and a movable plunger carried by said housing and when moved in one direction by the opening of said door causing said diaphragm to close said seat, said plunger and said diaphragm being so constructed and arranged that the atmosphere is adapted to be interconnected to said other port when said valve seat is closed and that atmosphere is prevented from being interconnected to said other port when said valve seat is opened.

13. In a washing machine or the like having a door for access to a washing compartment and having a motor for spinning said compartment, the improvement comprising a first pneumatically operated actuating means for causing said motor to spin said compartment when a pneumatic signal is directed to said first actuating means, a second pneumatically operated actuating means for latching said door in the closed position thereof when a pneumatic signal is directed to said second actuating means, a pneumatic source, passage means for simultaneously interconmeeting said source to said first and second actuating means, and means disposed between said source and said actuating means and being operatively interconnected to said door for closing said passage means from said source if said door is open and for opening said passage means to said source if said door is closed.

14. In a washing machine or the like as set forth in claim 13, program means for interconnecting said source to said passage means.

15. In a washing machine or the like as set forth in claim 1, said first actuating means closing an electrical switch when said first actuating means is interconnected to said source, said second actuating means moving a latch member when said second actuating means is interconnected to said source.

16. In a washing machine or the like as set forth in claim 13, said pneumatic source being a vacuum pump.

17. In a washing machine or the like as set forth in claim 1, said last-named means interconnecting said first and second actuating means to the atmosphere when said door is opened.

18. In a washing machine or the like as set forth in claim 13, said last-named means comprising a housing having three ports therein with one port being separated from the other two ports by a valve seat, said one port being interconnected to the part of said passage means leading to said source and the other two ports being respectively interconnected to the parts of said passage means leading to said first and second actuating means, a diaphragm carried by said housing and opening and closing said valve seat, spring means tending to hold said diaphragm away from said valve seat when said door is closed, and a movable plunger carried by said housing and when moved in one direction by the opening of said door causing said diaphragm to close said seat, said plunger and said diaphragm being so constructed and arranged that atmosphere is adapted to be interconnected to said two other ports when said valve seat is closed and that atmosphere is prevented from being interconnected to said two other ports when said valve seat is opened.

19. A. valve means comprising a housing having two ports therein separated by a valve seat, a diaphragm carried by said housing for opening and closing said valve seat, said diaphragm having an aperture passing therethrough in offset relation to said valve seat, spring means tending to hold said diaphragm away from said valve seat, and a movable plunger carried by said housing and when moved in one direction causing said diaphragm to close said seat, said plunger and said diaphragm being so con- 1 1 structecl and arranged that atmosphere is adapted to be interconnected to one of said ports through said diaphragm aperture when said valve seat is closed and that atmosphere is prevented from being interconnected to said one port through said diaphragm aperture when said valve seat is opened.

20. A valve member as set forth in claim 19 wherein said plunger carries a valve member that cooperates with another valve seat of said housing that interconnects the atmosphere to said diaphragm aperture, said valve member of said plunger closing said other valve seat when said first-named valve seat is opened and opening said other valve seat when said first-named valve seat is closed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1959 McWilliams 25133l X 6/1961 Bochan 68-12 X 

1. IN A WASHING MACHINE OR THE LIKE HAVING A DOOR FOR ACCESS TO A WASHING COMPARTMENT AND HAVING A MOTOR FOR SPINNING SAID COMPARTMENT, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED ACTUATING MEANS FOR CAUSING SAID MOTOR TO SPIN SAID COMPARTMENT WHEN A PNEUMATIC SIGNAL IS DIRECTED TO SAID ACTUATING MEANS, A PNEUMATIC SOURCE, PASSAGE MEANS FOR INTERCONNECTING SAID SOURCE TO 